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Monday, December 5, 2011

The Rise of the Bang

One Korean fad I haven't seen or heard of in any other country is that of the "bang" Okay, now that you've got your snickers out... it's not that kind of bang, although the locations are frequently patronized by couples, but in Korean, the word bang means room, and it's come to represent a huge culture fad for the younger Korean generation. Where did this fad come from? And how did it become so popular? Well, let's start by introducing different types of bangs:

You've got your standard video bang, a cheaper alternative to a movie, and often with free snacks... plus, you can talk or take a nap and no one will judge!

Then you've got the PC bang, popular with young kids and gamers who want to kill a couple of hours surfing online or playing starcraft (super popular in Korea!)

Then you've got the norebang, by far the most popular Korean tradition of karaoke rooms. Okay, you can find karaoke rooms in plenty of other countries, but Koreans take them to the next level. And after a long night out, it's a great way to unwind.

norebang, literally- "singing room"

yep, that's me! Okay, I'm not participating in this particular song, but I sang, I swear!

Then you've got your multi-bang, which has got everything from DVD players to PS3s, and often free snacks and drinks are included in the price of admission (hardly ever more than $20 for a couple hours)

Finally, we have the jimjibang... a traditional Korean bathhouse.

start with a nice relaxing soak in one of the salt baths...

followed by a little shower...

and relax away!

Oh...and did I mention people go naked? For the non-exhibitionists, I wouldn't recommend trying...go naked, or don't go at all, it's part of the jimjibang experience. Yeah...it's a little uncomfortable, but if you can get yourself outside of your comfort zone...you might find yourself feeling sort of...relaxed!

I'll admit, I was a little skeptical before trying. What's the point really? I can watch a movie or take a shower at home, why pay to do it somewhere else? But, as I got to trying the different kinds of bangs, I'm starting to get why they're so popular. For one, real estate in Seoul is expensive, and well... cramped. Therefore, spending a couple extra dollars for some leg room doesn't seem like such a bad trade-off. Also, for younger couples, it offers a little privacy. Since most college students live at home, and bringing your significant other home to mom and dad is something akin to a marriage proposal, bangs offer a little privacy for the lovebirds without having to resort to a cheesy love motel. In general, Americans shy away from this concept of bangs because, frankly, we like our privacy. Why would I take a nap in a room with strangers when I can do it in the privacy of my own home? I had a hard time figuring this one out, so I asked my Korean friends:

me: so why do you go to the jimjibang?

korean: to relax

me: yes but why don't you go home and relax?

korean: well, at the jimjibang we can just come and do nothing for a little bit

me: okay, but why can't you do that at home?

korean: well, we can, but jijibang is for relaxing

me: yes but why?

after about five minutes I gave up and satisfied myself with the obvious answer...it's a Korean thing. Koreans work hard, study hard, party hard...turns out, they even turn relaxing into an extreme activity! Later on, my friend pointed out to me that an inherent advantage of the jimjibang are the heated floors, a long held Korean tradition, seen even in the ancient palaces around Seoul. Older people especially crave the feeling of a warm wooden floor to sleep on, not often included in more modern apartment buildings. So there you have it, privacy, relaxation, warm floors...what more could one wish for?

About Me

Hello Everyone! I am a 24 year old graduate student at Cleveland State University studying International Relations. I am excited to be starting this blog focusing on studying as an international student in the United States as a project for my VSFS Internship with the State Department.
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